20 Feb 2019

Parliament has heard that Larsen and Tourbo Limited was awarded three tenders to construct sections of the North West Transmission Grid Connection (NWTGC) project.

Minister of Mineral Resources, Green Technology and Energy Security, Mr Eric Molale said there were six citizen land surveyors hired for the survey works, and that they were all qualified and registered in accordance with the provisions of the Land Survey Act.

He said on the verification of the registration status of surveyors providing services under the North West project, it had come to their attention that two surveyors of Indian origin who were engaged directly by the main contractors to monitor the work done by the local subcontractors were not registered to practice in Botswana.

This, he said, was unacceptable as it was flouting the law, adding that he had since requested Botswana Power Corporation to address the issue as a matter of urgency.

Furthermore, Mr Molale said 665 people were employed in the project out of which 27 were foreigners, which translated to 96 per cent of the employees being citizens. Kgalagadi North MP, Mr Noah Salakae had asked for the name of the company awarded the tender to construct lines at Morupule-Letlhakane 229 kilometres, Letlhakane–Orapa 17 kilometres and Letlhakane–Mowana 2 297 kilometres. He also wanted the minister to state whether the land surveyors hired for survey works were registered and qualified. ENDS